Will Hardy's Contract Option Exercised by Jazz Before 2024-25 NBA Season

The Utah Jazz have exercised the option on head coach Will Hardy's contract, the team announced on Friday.

Hardy is heading into his third season with the team. The terms of the option were not disclosed.

The 36-year-old is the second-youngest head coach in the NBA behind the Boston Celtics' Joe Mazzulla. He has led the Jazz to a 68-96 overall record since joining the rebuilding franchise ahead of the 2022-23 season.

"Will has done a great job of guiding our program and instilling the right values and competitive habits with our young group," Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said in a statement. "The organization looks forward to developing with Will as we strive for long-term success through strategic and deliberate growth."

Hardy previously worked in the San Antonio Spurs organization between 2010 and 2017, including a role as an assistant video coordinator during the Spurs' run to the 2014 title and six seasons as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich.

He then served as an assistant coach for the Celtics behind Ime Udoka for one season, which was capped off by Boston's run to the 2022 Finals, before becoming the first head coaching hire of Ryan and Ashley Smith's tenure as the Jazz team owners.

The Jazz's decision to exercise the option will keep Hardy in Salt Lake City through the 2025-26 season, by which point Utah could be hoping to be working on building a postseason contender.

Utah has locked in Lauri Markkanen for the long-term with the August contract renegotiation and extension that will keep the former All-Star forward with the Jazz through the 2028-29 campaign.

The Jazz's decision to extend Hardy's contract means they believe he is the right coach to help the franchise rejoin the postseason picture for the first time since 2022.